BVA  General  Board  Meeting  8/24/11      

 

Call  to  Order  –  meeting  called  to  order  at  7:08pm  by  Bill  Shaw,  Board   President.   Establish  Quorum   Board  Members  in  attendance   Cathy  Gomes   Nancy  Henderson   Barbara  Bass-­‐Evans   Brian  Greenshields   Ben  Nurse   Aparna  Sreenivasan   Bob  Evans   Marilyn  McMasters   Camilo  Wilson   Bill  Shaw   Matt  Binder   Clyde  Roberson  

 

Consent  Items  

 

1.

Approval  of  previous  minutes.  

2.

Adopt  Agenda.  

Minutes  from  last  week  will  need  to  be  approved  next  meeting.    Bob   Evans  made  motion  to  adopt  the  agenda.    Brian  Greenshields  seconds.  All   in  favor.    None  opposed.  Motion  passes.  

 

Director  Reports   1. Bill  –  met  with  Jerry  Simmons,  legal  counsel,  and  we  were   directed  that  as  BVA,  we  cannot  endorse  or  campaign  for  any   political/ballot  measure.    He  also  mentioned  that  our  test  scores   will  help  keep  our  enrollment  high.    Brian  mentioned  that  our  goal   setting  is  also  very  important.    Mitch  agreed.    Staff  is  working  on   goals  for  the  school  year  –  will  review  3  times  a  year.    The   standards  are  high  and  the  teachers  are  going  to  try  to  achieve   goals  with  the  help  of  Mitch.    Camilo  talked  about  how  that  was   our  vision,  and  Brian  reminded  us  that  we  need  to  communicate   our  vision  and  revisit.   2. Aparna  –  CSUMB  has  several  students  that  are  on  senior  level  that   are  willing  to  come  to  BVA  for  their  service  learning  and  help  with   reading,  math,  science.    It’s  for  a  semester,  they  need  30  hours,   which  works  out  to  2  hours/week.       3. Ben  –  AINI  is    an  organization  that  will  coordinate  relationships   with  other  classes  from  around  the  world.      The  creator  would  like   to  come  and  present  her  ideas  and  see  if  we  would  like  to  do  this   here.     4. Brian  –  Federal  Impact  Aide  –  3%  or  400  students.    Due  by  Jan   31st,  2012.    We  will  need  to  do  a  survey.    If  we  have  15%,  then  we   can  get  DOD  grants.   5. Bob  –  No  treasurer’s  report.    We  have  haven’t  seen  anything  from   our  financial  contractor  –  CMC.    Mitch  has  made  contact  with   them.    He  talked  with  them  and  found  out  that  we  are  assigned   an  accountant  and  we  are  supposed  to  come  up  with  our  own   system.    The  company  thought  they  could  help  us  get  up  and   running.  

 

6. Marilyn  –  Margret  Kylander  has  a  piano  and  bookshelves  to   donate.  

Principal  Report     Enrollment  169  students.      Many  applications  are  out  and  some  are   expected  back.    Most  parents  want  something  different  for  their  kids.     Mitch  has  been  thinking  about  how  to  increase  enrollment.    Thursday’s   will  be  the  day  that  a  newsletter  can  go  out.    Suggested  another  vinyl  sign   for  the  fence.    Ben  is  looking  at  putting  an  advertisement  in  the  Herald  and   the  Weekly.  Lunch  is  working  well  now  for  credit  card  processing.     Morning  procedure  has  been  going  well,  Brian  has  been  supervising  and   will  keep  all  kids  in  courtyard.    Parents  may  drop  off  kids  at  7:50am.     Teachers    will  open  door  at  8:25  or  8:30.    Matt  asked  about  the  locked   doors  in  the  morning,  and  how  it  causes  a  barrier  for  the  kids.    Matt   proposed  that  the  kids  can  come  into  the  classroom  at  8:20  if  they  want.     Dismissal  is  with  open  gates  and  the  parents  can  pick  up  the  kids  at  the   door  or  at  the  U-­‐pick  up.    Ben  mentioned  that  he  feels  that  by  having  the   kids  in  the  courtyard  –  it  doesn’t  foster  community.    Brian  explained  again   that  the  vision  is  important.    Mitch  would  like  to  keep  the  drop-­‐off  the   same,  and  foster  communication  in  other  ways.    Mitch  had  been   researching  health  insurance  for  the  staff.    BTSA  training  for  our  year  1  and   2  teachers.    All  the  teachers  will  go  to  the  orientation.    CCSA  has  a  state-­‐ wide  conference  –  this  year  is  in  Sacramento.    Summer  registration  is   $250.    Conference  is  in  Feb.    Bob  reminded  everybody  that  it  is  part  of  the   capacity  building  and  we  have  funded  for  the  principal  and  Board   members  to  go.    Mitch  met  with  Cecile  about  the  volunteer  duties  and  he   presented  to  Staff  on  how  to  implement  within  the  next  two  weeks.     Friday  a  volunteer  letter  is  going  out.   Communication   Public  comments  not  on  agenda   (1) Nancy  asked  about  the  books.    LA  books  are  here   and  the  Math  books  hopefully  will  be  here  tomorrow.     Mitch  asked  the  volunteer  coordinator  to  get  parents  to   help.   (2) Jo  Greenshields  asked  about  the  wait  lists.  And   reminded  the  Board  that  we  are  all  the  ambassadors  for   the  school  and  we  need  to  make  sure  the  PR  is  right  from   the  get  go.    She  would  like  to  see  the  gates  locked   especially  at  the  playground.    Thought  the  Weekly  would   be  a  good  contact  to  do  an  article  for  us.    Jo  wants  to  make   sure  that  the  community  feels  welcome.  

  (3) Cathy  asked  about  the  fingerprinting  of  the   volunteers.    We  will  put  it  on  the  next  agenda.  

Discussion  and  Action  Items   a. Barbara  makes  motion  to  adopt  the  Fiscal  Control  Policy.    Camilo   Seconds.    All  in  favor   b. BVA  Organization.    Mitch,  Bob,  Cecile,  Brian  and  Camilo  met  last   Friday  to  discuss  how  the  Governance  of  BVA  should  be.    Barbara   makes  motion  to  rename  PAC  to  CVO  (Community  Volunteer   Organization)  –    CVO  will  give  recommendations    and    handle   implementation.    Board  still  makes  policy.    Membership  consists  of   Board  members,  staff,  parents  and  community  members.  Will   collaborate  on  specific  projects  for  ongoing  responsibilities.    On  a   case  by  case  basis  they  may  implement  and  execute  policy  with   Board  approval.  Ex  –  A  Black  Tie  Gala.  Marilyn  seconds.      All  in  favor.     None  opposed.    Motion  passes.   Bill  talked  with  legal  council  on  this  –  Jerry  recommended  that  we   do  not  have  a  separate  legal  entity  for  fundraising.    It  was  his   opinion  that  the  CVO  would  be  directed  by  the  principal.    Make  it   very  clear  that  when  the  CVO  raises  money,  it  is  very  clear  on  where   the  money  goes.      

c. Mitch  asked  for  an  advisory  committee.    One  that  could  advise  him   on  things  in  between  Board  meetings.    The  smaller  group  would   need  to  reflect  a  more  diverse  cross-­‐section  of  the  Board.    The   committee  will  consist  of  Bill,  Clyde,  Nancy  and  Bob.  

 

d. Kindergarten  Cut-­‐off  date.    Bob  moves  that  we  follow  the  CA  state   guideline.    Marilyn  seconds.    Discussion  over  why  one  way  is  better   than  another.    All  in  favor.    None  opposed.  Motion  passes.  

 

e. Discussion  of  Corporation  Annual  Meeting  and  election  of  directors.     We  had  an  annual  meeting  last  August.    We  might  need  to  hold   another  this  month.    Bob  and  Cathy  to  look  at  the  by-­‐laws.  Bob   makes  motion  to  ask  Legal  questions  about  the  process  and  how  we   educate  ourselves  and  move  forward.      We  will  investigate  terms   for  officers,  dismissals  of  members,  elections  and  how  we  change   the  by-­‐laws.      Marilyn  seconds.    Discussion  around  review  of   compliance  to  date  and  governance  training.    All  in  favor.    None   opposed.    Motion  passes.   f. Update  on  budget  and  business  services  provider.      Bob  to  contact   Paul  from  the  business  services.    Mitch  feels  like  they  are  not  giving   us  the  service  that  we  should  be  getting.    Discussion  over  if  we  need   to  call  a  special  meeting  if  by  close  of  business  Friday  we  have  not   gotten  satisfactory  response  from  our  business  services  -­‐  CMC.  

  Adjourn  to  closed  session  at  10:25pm.     Heard  reports  on  hiring  for  Spec  Ed  coordinator,  Resource,  and  Spanish/ELD  in   closed  session.     Next  Board  meeting  is  September  7th.     Meeting  adjourned  11pm.